Matt Grevers, Freshman, Northwestern: Grevers heads into the Big Ten Championships with conference bests in the 50 Free and 100 free (20.05; 43.53). The rookie was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week on Feb. 2 after setting a pool record in the 200 back and school records in the 100 back and 400 medley against Michigan on Jan 31. Grevers has not competed in the 50 free since Jan. 24, when he registered a first-place time of 20.26 against Notre Dame. He has not seen action in the 100 free since Jan. 16 against Michigan State, where he recorded a first-place time of 44.40. Regardless of his inactivity in the sprint free, he enters the championship meet as one of the favorites.

Tony Swanson, Senior, Northwestern: Swanson gives the Wildcats depth in the sprint free events when teaming with Grevers. Swanson, a former Big Ten Swimmer of the Week, holds the second best 100 free time (44.00) in the conference right behind Grevers. The senior recorded this career best on Jan. 24 against Michigan; a time also doubled as a new Norris Aquatics Center pool record. Also against the Maize and Blue, Swanson clocked a season best in the 50 free with a time of 20.42.

Dale Rogers, Senior, Wisconsin: Rogers is one the Badgers' star swimmers in the 50 and 100 free, along with Adam Mania, as he has been among their top performers in these races all season long. The senior ranks second in Big Ten in the 50 free with a time of 20.33. He also has the fourth best conference time in the 100 free at 44.69. Rogers' last victories were in early January, when he collected two first-place showings in the 100 free and one in the 50-free through two meets in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Terry Silkaitis, Junior, Minnesota: Silkaitis is a dominant force in the sprint free events for the Golden Gophers, holding a season-best time of 20.40 in the 50 free. He recently finished second in the 100 free at a triangular meet against Wisconsin and Purdue with a time of 45.67. Silkaitis was edged out by teammate Ales Volcansek and Wisconsin's Matt Marshall in the 50 free, with all competitors finishing within two-hundredths of a second between each other.

Matt Marshall, Senior, Wisconsin: The elder Badger has been one of Wisconsin's top competitors in the 50 free, along with the aforementioned Rogers and Mania. Marshall ranks fourth among Big Ten competitors in this event with a top season time of 20.34. At the Wisconsin Triangular, Marshall finished runner-up in the 50 free just behind Minnesota's Ales Volcansek with a time of 20.95. Marshall's last victory in the 50 free came in early January when he recorded a 20.56 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Beyond the top five ... Adam Mania (Wisconsin) ... holds the second best conference time in the 50 free (20.26), right behind Grevers ... Adam Mitchell (Minnesota) ... known for his speed in the backstroke, this Golden Gopher holds the seventh-best Big Ten time in the 50 free (20.48) and the fifth-best in the 100 free (44.73) ... Dan Ketchum (Michigan) ... the Wolverines' captain finished second to Northwestern's Swanson in the 100 free (45.28) at Jan 31. dual meet ... Ketchum's best time this season in the 100 free is 44.48 (third-best in the conference) ... Ales Volcansek (Minnesota) ... topped Wisconsin's Marshall and teammate Silkaitis at Wisconsin Triangular with a 20.92 on Jan. 24.